Aston Villa targeting Scottish Premier League winger

Aston Villa are targeting a move for Kilmarnock winger Jordan Jones, as per a report by Birmingham Live.

Their new boss, Dean Smith, is looking to put his own stamp on his newly inherited squad with a couple of signings in the January transfer window. Jones has emerged as a target for the Midlands side.

The 24-year-old gained his first cap for Northern Ireland last October against Switzerland after impressing in the Scottish Premier League with Kilmarnock.

Jones started his career with Middlesbrough but could never break into their first-team. He made one appearance for Boro in 2012 but gained first-team experience during loan spells in League Two with Cambridge United and Hartlepool United.

He was released by Boro after the 2015/16 season and found himself looking for a new club. Kilmarnock snapped him up in the summer of 2016 and that move has paid off for Jones with his career back on track and a move back to England seeming very likely this January.

Aston Villa have turned a corner under Smith and will be hoping to climb into the promotion push as the season progresses. It is expected to be a busy winter at Villa Park as they look to bolster their squad and Jones is a signing that could potentially happen.

He has been linked with a move away from Kilmarnock regularly over the past year with clubs such as Rangers, Norwich City, Hull City and Burnley being mentioned, but it now appears Aston Villa are firmly in the race for him.